The School of Art and Crafts of VicenzaThe origin of the School of Art and Crafts dates back to 1858, when the Olympic Academy of Science, Letters, Arts, which had been founded in 1555, decided to create a special School whose specific mission was the promotion of handicraft. Anyway, already in 1740, the first Design courses had started.During the following years, it was renewed by the Olympic Academy, with the help of the Vicenza Province Administration, the Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce for Industry and Crafts, which are all to be considered the founders of the School. Over the past few years, new associates joined the above-mentioned founders: the Vicenza SME Association, the Industrial Association and the Trade Fair.At present, the School is an association of Corporations and Institutions, according to the article 36 of the Italian Civil Code.The 1987 was a very important year for the development of its domestic activities, since it began carrying out the first courses financed by the European Social Fund

The School, which specializes in the vocational training for jewellery, since 2003 has carried out special courses focused on design of fashion accessories and clothes. Lately, the restoration of sacred jewellery became a new prestigious branch of its vocational activities. The mission of the School is to act as natural link between the school education and the access to the labour market.

At present, its range of activities involves the following economic sectors:

Jewellery

Restoration of metal sacred art

Leather accessories

Dressmaking and garment manufacturing

Over its recent history, the School set up several partnerships with those foreign gubernatorial and private institutions which are responsible for the growth of the local jewellery sector. It carries out its vocational training projects abroad, on demand of the partner countries.